Socialism Pacifists
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-eillllllllllllillB- tlllllllllllllllD Socialism lor Pacifists A. FENNER BROCKWAY Editor of the " Labour Leader.' PRICE SIXPENCE. THE NATIONAL LABOUR PRESS, LIMITED, 30, Blackfriart Street, Manchester; And at London. DIIIIIHIIIIIIIIM IHIIIIIIIIifiliH- IHHHIIIIIIIIHD SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS BY A. FENNER BROCKWAY (Editor of the "Labour Leader") Author of "The Devil's Business, "Labour and Liberalism, " " " What the I.L.P. Wants," h Britain Blameless? &c., &c. THE NATIONAL LABOUR PRESS, LTD. MANCHESTER ; and at LONDON DEDICATION. THIS ELEMENTARY INTRODUCTION TO SOCIALISM IS DEDICATED TO ALL MY COMRADES WHO ARE WITNESSING IN CIVIL AND MILITARY CUSTODY TO THEIR SOCIALISM AND PACIFIST PRINCIPLES. 968931 PREFACE During last summer so many Pacifists, attracted to the I.L.P. movement by its opposition to the war, wrote to me asking for a simple statement of the case for Socialism as opposed to the case for Militarism that I decided to attempt to write a small book to meet the demand. I had written the first three chapters when I was removed to Pentonville Prison to serve a sentence imposed under the Defence of the Kealm Act for attach- ing my signature to a leaflet denouncing Conscription. The last five chapters have been written during a week's holiday at Letchworth, previous to my arrest under the Military Service Act. I regret that I have no oppor- to revise there are I tunity the MS. ; many blemishes would like to remove. Under the circumstances I must ask the indulgence of my readers, and trust that where there is repetition it will only serve to emphasise points which have seemed to me important. A. F. B. November 22, 1916. Letchworth. Vll. CONTENTS CHAPTER. PAGE. PREFACE vii I. THE MILITARIST AND SOCIALIST IDEALS ... 11 II. WAR AND THE ECONOMIC SYSTEM 16 III. CAPITALIST INTERESTS WHICH THRIVE ON WAR 21 IV. TRADE AND FINANCIAL EIVALRY AS A CAUSE OF WAR 26 V. THE SOCIALIST MOVEMENT AND PEACE 30 VI. SOCIALISM AND THE LABOUR MOVEMENT 37 VII. THE I.L.P., THE WAR, AND PEACE 48 SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS CHAPTER I. THE MILITAEIST AND SOCIALIST IDEALS. Before the war two distinct and antagonistic tenden- cies were observable in the development of Western civilisation : the tendency towards Despotism and Militarism, and the tendency towards Democracy and Socialism. The majority of people were probably con- scious agents of neither, but I believe history will show that beneath all the cross-currents on the surface of life these two streams flowed, surging in ceaseless conflict, one against the other. The tendency towards Despotism and Militarism was not, perhaps, deliberately directed with a complete and definite purpose in view, though no doubt a few minds which assisted to guide it understood clearly and cun- ningly the development before it. It was leading to a Servile State dominated by a governing class main- tained in power by military discipline. The terms Military and Industrial Conscription best suggest its characteristics. THE MILITARIST IDEAL. In this State the masses of the people would be the drilled and regimented servants of the ruling caste. The process of regimentation would begin at school, where every boy would be disciplined by military train- ing. The motive of education would be, not the de- velopment of every faculty to the highest capacity, but the creation of efficient machines for industrial and 11 12 SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS military purposes. The early years of manhood would be entirely devoted to military service. From the colleges of the upper classes the officers would be drafted the ; sons of the working class would automati- cally become the privates. During these vital years they would be taught with military thoroughness the virtue of obedience to their " giving unreasoning superiors." When they passed into civic employment they would be well fitted to play the servile part demanded of them. They would be mere automata mechanical as the machines they tended. Their hours of labour might be short, they might be well paid (for good results cannot be expected from an animal which is overworked or underfed), but they would have no more voice in the control of their labour than has the horse which " obeys" the rein of his driver. They would be officered in the trained whose workshop by specially" officials," pride in belonging to the middle class and dependence upon the favour of their masters could be relied upon to secure the necessary discipline and loyalty. The of the labour of the industrial products " army would into the hands of the of indus- " pass captains try to be used at their pleasure, or, if the workshops were State establishments, would be at the disposal of the politicians of the ruling class, for whom the workers would, of course, obediently vote, to be expended lavishly on militarist development, or upon the administration of the benevolent social reforms which, in their zeal for regulating, and docketing the lives of the masses, these politicians would be so generous as to enact. When this round of life became too dull, or the working class became feverishly restive, the governing class might obligingly arrange a little war to act as a to I the phrase of Mr. purgative " (if may adopt Austin Harrison) a constipated civilisation." The women of the State would be valued as the breeders of the slaves of the industrial and military SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS 13 machine, or as the playthings of the ruling class. Should there be a surplus of women, they would be welcomed in the lowest grades of industry as particularly subservient slaves, but all the avenues to positions of responsibility and initiative would be closed against them. It is a characteristic of militarism that wherever it becomes dominant women are held in low esteem. The attitude of the State towards other peoples would be inspired by the same spirit of domination. Military expeditions would be periodically despatched to the undeveloped territories of primitive peoples to plant the flag of civilisation in their midst. The natives would be enslaved, and greedy financiers encouraged to exploit the national wealth obtainable. By tariffs and concessions monopoly privileges would be extended to them, and if conflicts occurred with States pursuing a similar policy, the diplomatic service, with the military machine behind it, would be set in operation. Should the opposing State prove intractable and the opportunity of extending the sphere of domination seem good, the method of war would be resorted to, "in ' ' ' ' order to vindicate national honour and to prevent the world dominion of the opposing Power." Such would be the State to which the first tendency, if allowed free flow, would take us. THE SOCIALIST IDEAL. The goal to which the tendency towards Democracy and Socialism would lead would be the absolute oppo- site of this. The Socialist State would be animated not by a desire to dominate but by the principle of co-operation based on a sense of equality. The community would do its utmost to give every boy and girl throughout childhood and the early years of life the opportunity to develop all their capacities to the fullest degree B 14 SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS possible. Education would be, not a commodity to be purchased, but the right of every young life, given gladly and freely to the furthest capacity of the State. On attaining to manhood and womanhood, every member of the community would have equal yoice in the control both of the political and industrial affairs of the nation. With the mind of every citizen developed by good education, the people could be trusted to take an intelligent interest in the election of their public representatives, and in the enactment and administration of the laws of the land. A sense of equality would prevent that practice of bureaucracy to which elected persons are so prone. This democratic principle would be applied not only to public affairs as we know them to-day, but to all communal interests. It would be embodied in every phase of industry. The national services such as the mines, the railways, the land, shipping, and the great staple industries would be the property not of a wealthy class, but of the whole nation. The local services, such as the bread and milk supplies and the lighting and travelling facilities, would be the communal property of the inhabitants of the towns and districts concerned. They would be owned and controlled by the public, and administered by the pub- licly elected authorities, in co-operation with the workers engaged in each service, in the interests of the public. The products of such industries would be distributed equitably, according to the decision of the people. There would no longer be a master class, a middle class, and a working class. Every citizen would be a worker, contributing co-operatively to the communal wealth, receiving in return all that is necessary to live a true human life. The democratisation of industry would not be limited to such control as are given by nationalisation and municipalisation as we know them at present. In addition to the intensified interest which would be SOCIALISM FOR PACIFISTS 15 taken in public affairs under the conditions I have described, the democratic principle would be applied directly to the industries themselves. The workers would select those responsible for the organisation of the industry. They would realise that they controlled the conditions of their labour, and would work not as servants in the interests of a master-class, but as equals, co-operating in their joint endeavour. The principle of co-operation which permeated the internal affairs of a nation would also animate its relations with the other nations.